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LONGVIEW — A Longview man is $1 million richer after buying a $10 scratch-off. KETK reports Gene W. Hulen claimed the first of six prizes in the 50X The Cash game. The ticket was sold at Tigermart, located in the 1900 block of E. Marshall Avenue, and is now eligible for a $10,000 retailer bonus. The overall odds of winning any prize are one in 3.53. The scratch-off provides players with a chance to win more than $110 million in prizes, according to the Texas Lottery Commission.

QUITMAN — A trial date has been set for a Mineola man accused of killing a teenager in June 2014. KETK reports Jason Russell Walters, 41, will appear in the 402nd District Court for a pre-trial hearing on June 11, and trial is slated to start on August 17 at 9 a.m. Walters was booked into jail on Septmember 17 for the murder of Christopher James Griffin, 19, of Mineola. He was released on $250,000 bond. The victim was killed by a gunshot wound to his neck at a local gas sation on June 15.

ALPINE — The case of a murdered 28-year-old Kilgore man is expected to be presented to a Brewster County grand jury within the next month. According to KETK, the Brewster County District Attorney’s Office is still awaiting a return on Trey Sands’s autopsy and toxicology report. Meanwhile, all three suspects remain jailed on $200,000 bond: Keith McWilliams, 49, of Alpine; Rhonda Bloom, 42, of Terlingua; and Charles Morrow, 30, of Benbrook. Continue reading Trey Sands Case Expected to Go before Grand Jury in Next Month

EAST TEXAS — Tyler and Longview are both honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with the annual holiday in Dr. King’s honor coming up Monday. Activities in Longview are already underway, while Tyler has a big celebration planned for Monday morning. Continue reading Tyler, Longview Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police have identified the body of a man found at the scene of a Tuesday evening shooting in the 1600 Block of Hawthorne Street. According to KETK, the victim was said to be Philander Carlton Peters, 48, Longview. An eyewitness at the scene said they heard four gunshots and saw a black male running from the home. The shooting remains under investigation and police are treating the case as a homicide. Anyone with any information is asked to contact authorities.

TYLER — The Texas Department of Transportation is closing Smith County Road 46 at Prairie Creek Tributary as of Wednesday, January 14, for a bridge replacement project. The bridge replacement is part of a joint contract with the County Road 448 at Village Creek project. The CR 46 project is expected to take about three months to complete. Message boards notifying motorists of the closure have been in place for a week. Advance warning signs for the closure have also been installed. Local traffic has already started using alternate routes in anticipation of the closure. Continue reading Smith County Bridge Being Replaced

TYLER – The assistant director of bands at Texas Christian University, Jeremy Strickland, has been selected as director of bands for Tyler Junior College. Strickland will begin his duties at TJC on June 1. He will lead the TJC band program, which consists of: Apache Band (marching band), three concert bands, two jazz ensembles, jazz combo, two percussion ensembles and indoor drumline. He has served as assistant director of bands at TCU for the past seven years. Prior to TCU, he served as both assistant and head band director at Springtown High School. Continue reading New Director of Bands at TJC

LONGVIEW — A Kilgore man remained Tuesday in the Gregg County Jail on $100,000 bond, charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Jeffrey Lawrence MacDonald, 37, was arrested Friday after police say he was caught on video performing sexual acts with a boy under the age of 14. According to police, MacDonald’s roommate came forward earlier this month after he had reviewed video from the pair’s apartment from September and discovered footage of MacDonald engaging in a sexual activity with a 13-year-old boy. The video was used to store apartment surveillance and media, Armstrong said. Police verified the video, date stamped Sept. 19, 2014, and later arrested MacDonald, according to the complaint filed in Gregg County.

EAST TEXAS — Four suspects have been arrested and three more are at large following a multi-county investigation to capture the persons responsible for more than $1 million in lost property during a recent crime spree. KETK reports the offenses took place in Smith, Gregg, Rusk, and Harrison Counties, as well as the cities of New London and Kilgore. According to Rusk County Sergeant David Roberts, authorities there responded to several reports of “mash and dashes.” Criminals pulled into driveways and rammed vehicles into local homes. Stolen vehicles and ATMs have been reported throughout the area; in all, over 30 service related vehicles were taken across the East Texas area. All of the stolen automobiles have been recovered to date; most were destroyed or damaged, according to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. Continue reading Suspects Named in Multi-County, $1M-Plus Crime Spree

TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office confirms Joshua and Krista Caulkins resigned from their positions last week to avoid prosecution. According to KETK, in return for no prosecution, Joshua Caulkins surrendered his peace officer license for life and will not receive pay for leave in January. He will also pay back any wages earned from his fraudulent degree, according to District Attorney Matt Bingham. The amount owed is around $4,300. Continue reading Two SCSO Employees Resign to Avoid Prosecution

LUFKIN (AP) — An East Texas man has pleaded guilty to strangling a woman with an electrical cord and then dumping her body near the banks of a river last year. The Lufkin News reports that Justin Welch, 23, of Lufkin pleaded guilty to murder Monday in the April death of Elisha Henson, 30, of Pollok. A judge then sentenced Welch to 50 years in prison. His murder indictment says Welch killed Henson in a fit of rage because he was afraid she might have given him HIV. His attorney, Al Charanza Jr., said the plea deal was in Welch’s best interest. Charanza says his client “wanted the truth to come out.” A Lufkin woman accused of driving Welch to dump Henson’s body is awaiting trial on a murder charge.

LONGVIEW — Longview police officers say they’ve seen an increase in sex trafficking. KETK reports that in five weeks, Rahab’s Retreat and Ranch will open up in Kilgore. The center will provide a safe place for 130 women and children who have been victimized as well. Authorities say sex trafficking continues to be a big problem because individual situations are hard to identify. The Longview Police Department busted four sex trafficking cases in 2014.

ATHENS — On Monday, Robbie Glenn Smith, 66, formerly of Frankston, was sentenced in Athens to 40 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for continuous sexual assault of a child. According to KETK, Henderson County District Attorney Scott McKee says Smith will never be eligible for parole because the 40 year sentence must be served day for day. Smith will be 106 when his sentence expires. Continue reading Man Gets 40 Years for Child Sex Assault

TYLER — On January 7, the Tyler Police Department completed distribution and training regarding all 135 recently-approved body cameras for the uniform officers within the department. According to a news release, officers have also been instructed on the policy concerning the proper use of the cameras. In November of 2014, the Tyler City Council approved the purchase of the devices to capture police and citizen interactions in full-sound and color videos. Taser International was awarded the bid for 135 body camera systems at a cost of $54,457.52. Continue reading Tyler Police Equipped with Body Cameras

WELLSTON, MO. (AP) – Students at an eastern Missouri high school will be offered 11 scholarships to honor Michael Brown, who graduated from the school days before he was shot to death by a Ferguson police officer. The scholarships were announced Monday at Normandy High School. They will pay for four years’ tuition at colleges and universities operated by three black Methodist denominations. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the scholarships will target students who want to go to college but might not have the chance. Brown’s parents were sitting with church leaders when the scholarships were announced. Their foundation, Michael Brown Chosen for Change, is partnering with the denominations to award scholarships to Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama; Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia; and Texas College in Tyler, Texas.

LONGVIEW – A Longview woman is arrested after she is said to have stabbed her boyfriend with a grilling fork. Sedalia Lashun Williams, 31, has been charged with aggravated assault/family violence. She remains in the Gregg County Jail on a bond of $20,000. The incident is said to have occurred during an argument over her being locked out of the residence.

LONGVIEW — Lane closures are underway as of Monday for the Magnolia Lane Widening Project between McCann and Judson Roads in Longview. The purpose of the project is to widen the section of road from two lanes to four lanes. Traffic will be limited to eastbound only from McCann to Judson. Westbound bound must use alternate routes. The closure will be effective through summer 2015. This project was approved by voters as part of the Capital Improvements Bond Election in May 2011. The project is being constructed by East Texas Bridge of Longview. If you have any questions related to construction, call the city’s project manager, Alton Bradley, at 903-237-1067.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Two men, including the son of two Smith County elected officials, are now behind bars following an investigation into an alleged sexual assault in Louisiana Sunday morning. KETK reports that just before 9:00 a.m. on January 11, Shreveport Police patrol officers were called to the 100 block of Lake St. on reports of an alleged sexual assault. In speaking with the victim, it was learned the woman was possibly assaulted by two men whom she met earlier while at a local hotel. Shreveport Police Sex Crimes detectives were called to the scene of the crime and an investigation was launched.

As authorities learned more details related to the accusations, two men at the hotel were taken into custody in connection with the assault. Detectives identified the men as Derek Phillips, 28, (pictured) and Spencer Pace, 28, both of Longview. Both suspects were taken to Shreveport Police headquarters where they were interviewed. Following the interrogation, both men were charged with a single count of simple rape. The men were booked into the Shreveport City Jail.

Derek Phillips is the son of Smith County Precinct 3 Commissioner Terry Phillips and Smith County Clerk Karen Phillips. He is a former Smith County deputy constable and resigned from the Hallsville police force about a month ago. This isn’t Derek Phillips’s first run-in with the law. In 2009, he was investigated by the Texas Rangers for allegedly flashing a gun and badge at a party.

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Greg Neeley, 57, of Longview as justice of the Tyler-based 12th Court of Appeals for a term to expire at the 2016 general election. Justice Sam Griffith announced plans last year to retire from the court. Neeley is an attorney in private practice. He is a past partner of Neeley and Blair LLP and Akin, Neeley and Mason LLP and past assistant district attorney for Gregg County. He is board certified in civil trial law and personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas. Continue reading Gov. Perry Appoints Neeley as Justice of 12th Court of Appeals

GLADEWATER — Gladewater ISD released students early Monday due to low water levels. According to KETK, school officials stated the city has reported several leaks causing the issue at hand. All students had been released by 1:30 p.m. The school’s administration could not immediately comment on whether Tuesday’s classes would be affected.

LONGVIEW — The number of people killed in homicides in Longview held nearly steady in 2014, yet as a new year begins there are still no charges filed in the majority of those cases. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, last year saw five fatal shootings within the city limits, homicides that left a total of eight people dead. In one of those incidents — a double homicide on June 15 in which Chanda “Candy” Martin and Kimberly Rayson were killed — murder charges have been filed. Isaiah Roberts, 30, of Tyler, faces a capital murder charge in the double shooting that led to the death of his ex-wife, Martin, and her friend. But in four other cases, including an April shooting in which three people were killed, police have yet to bring murder charges. Continue reading Longview Homicide Numbers Hold in 2014, but Few Charges

AUSTIN — Members of the state Legislature, including an East Texan, are sending a message to the federal government — don’t mess with Texas. More than a dozen bills have been filed to challenge what lawmakers consider to be federal overreach. State Representative Dan Flynn of Van has filed a proposal asking Congress to repeal the Dodd-Frank Law — which he says applies to small community banks that had nothing do with the financial meltdown of 2008. Flynn says Texas is successful because it doesn’t get in the way of business. In comments to “Texas Insider,” Flynn said, “If we want to have a business climate that’s not full of regulations, then we can continue to grow.” The 84th Texas Legislature convenes Tuesday.

HOUSTON (AP) – The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to consider an appeal from an East Texas man facing execution in March for a shootout that left two Henderson County sheriff’s deputies dead nearly eight years ago. The justices made no comment Monday in turning down 55-year-old Randall Wayne Mays. He’s scheduled to die March 18. A federal appeals court last July rejected arguments the former welder and oilfield worker had deficient legal help at his 2008 trial and that executing him would be unconstitutionally cruel because he’s mentally ill. Mays was convicted of slaying sheriff’s deputy Tony Ogburn. A second officer, Paul Habelt, also was killed and a third was wounded. The shootings occurred after Mays barricaded himself in his house in Payne Springs, about 55 miles southeast of Dallas.

TYLER — The Magic Nails and Spa in the 7000 block of South Broadway Avenue has been damaged by fire. The fire was reported shortly after 8:15 Saturday morning. Firefighters said the small fire started in the attic space of the business and quickly spread to a storage closet. Several nail polish products caught fire due to their flammability. The blaze was quickly contained before it could cause major damage to the business or neighboring businesses, although some were closed due to smoke damage. No injuries were reported.

BULLARD – A barn in southern Smith County has been destroyed by fire. It was reported around 8:00 Sunday night on Farm Road 344 near Bullard. KETK reports the barn and its contents, including a truck, were destroyed by the blaze. No word on what started the fire.

TYLER — Here’s a look at work planned in the Tyler District during the Week of January 12, 2015.

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintenance crews in Tyler will start the week with a crew repairing base failures on Ranch Road 2767 between Farm Road 850 and Farm Road 2908. Work will then move to State Highway 110 North between Interstate Highway 20 and the Wood County line to perform the same tasks. The roadways will be reduced to one lane with flaggers providing traffic control. Another crew will be patching low volume roads around the county. Traffic control will be in place but no lane closures are expected. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

WASHINGTON (AP/STAFF) — Die-hard House conservatives failed in their push to unseat House Speaker John Boehner last Tuesday. By Friday they looked like winners who are pushing their Republican caucus farther right. Rather than punish and isolate those who opposed him as leader, like Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert, Boehner surprised many by embracing a major immigration plan that’s more stringent and conservative than lawmakers had expected. It not only would block President Barack Obama’s recent limits on deportations, it would undo earlier protections for immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. Mainstream Republicans say Boehner’s decision probably portends firmly conservative approaches to other issues. That will complicate life for Senate Republicans and ensure fierce battles with Obama.

KILGORE – A Kilgore teen, who has been missing for over two weeks, has been found safe and sound. The Facebook page “Help Find Missing Samantha,” says Samantha Strader, 16, was found early Saturday afternoon in Greenville, Texas. Details surrounding the girl’s disappearance have not been released authorities. It was earlier reported Samantha was last seen at her stepmother’s house in northwest Upshur County either December 27th or 28th. Her mother says the teen had been held against her will. Her parents were said to have gone to Greenville to pick up their daughter.

SMITH COUNTY – Sheriff’s deputies are investigating the robbery of a Smith County service station. It happened Saturday afternoon in the 13000 block of Interstate Highway 20. KETK Reports a white male grabbed an employee by the arm and demanded cash. He then took off with an unknown amount of money. There was no report of injuries.

MARSHALL – Two men have been arrested in connection with a New Year’s Day drive-by shooting in Marshall that slightly injured a child. Arrested Friday were Willie Lee Jones Jr. and Jaron Demarcus Tucker, both 23 and both of Marshall. The shooting occurred just before 4:15pm on January 1st in the 800 block of West Emory Street. The youngster who was injured suffered a minor injury and was treated and released. The investigation is continuing and there could be additional arrests.